Support for teens with HIV moving from pediatric to adult care, offered virtually or in person
Interactive Transition Support for Adolescents Living with HIV Comparing Virtual and In-person delivery through a stepped-wedge cluster randomized clinical trial in South Africa
This project compares virtual (mobile phone) and in-person support programs to help adolescents living with HIV in South Africa stay in care and keep their virus suppressed during the move to adult services.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Emory University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11400625 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you're a teen with HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, this work offers either an in-person program or a mobile-health (mHealth) program to help you prepare for and move into adult HIV care. Clinics are rolled into the programs in phases using a stepped-wedge design, and teens will be screened for transition readiness so those who need extra help are prioritized. The team will track whether participants stay in care and maintain viral suppression while monitoring costs and how widely the virtual option can be adopted. Researchers will use a hybrid effectiveness-implementation approach to measure both health outcomes and real-world delivery challenges.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adolescents living with HIV who are transitioning from pediatric to adult care in South Africa—especially those aged about 12–20 with low to intermediate readiness for transition—are the intended participants.
Not a fit: Patients who are already stably retained in adult care with sustained viral suppression, adults outside the transition age range, or people outside the enrolled clinic regions in South Africa are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the programs could help more adolescents stay on treatment and reach viral suppression while making support easier to access by phone.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller adolescent-friendly and mHealth programs have shown promise for improving retention and adherence, but this is the first large randomized trial focused on the pediatric-to-adult transition in sub-Saharan Africa.
Where this research is happening
Atlanta, United States
- Emory University — Atlanta, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zanoni, Brian C. — Emory University
- Study coordinator: Zanoni, Brian C.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.